"Speaking from experience? Stopped a few martyrs in your time?"
She doesn't have to ask to know he's at least tried. But trying and succeeding are two very different things, something people as old as them are well aware of.
And she knows Tech's reasons. To save her. And his other friend. He can't die. In stories Gods sacrifice for the sake of their people but stories are full of shit and she's pretty sure if any gods exist in their world, and she doubts they do, they're assholes just like everyone else.
"And if it were your friend who was choosing to be tortured for a month, partly for your sake, you would simply respect that choice?"
Somehow, she doesn't think so. For all of his talk of the Path and the bard's songs about giving him coin she knows coin is not always the main motivation for Geralt. He may seem like another asshole, and sometimes he is, but he also has the capacity to give a shit where most other people wouldn't. Like with her.
"I didn't say I would," Geralt points out levelly. Then, after a pause and a subdued sigh, he adds, "Or that you should. I know you wouldn't listen to me telling you what to do regardless."
The last part is a particular mixture of fond and long suffering.
Which transitions naturally into, "But I do have some experience saving people who don't want to be saved. I can't say I regret doing it, but it can have its consequences."
"It's one of the things you like about me." A beat. "Most of the time." He probably doesn't appreciate her stubbornness to do what she wants right in this moment.
"Well I have to be able to do something. I'll find something."
Tech said she didn't own him but she feels the weight of debt around her neck all the same.
And then after another beat:
"Like entwining your destiny with a witch who doesn't listen to you?"
Edited (i wanted to add something later hours later don't @ me) 2022-06-12 08:10 (UTC)
"As much as I do like to take the dramatic option... I may be spent as far as acting drastically goes."
She's spent months scheming and planning and researching and it still blew up in her face in the end. She's tired. She wants to help Tech but she's also exhausted.
"So that's one less thing for you to worry about, at least."
no subject
"Speaking from experience? Stopped a few martyrs in your time?"
She doesn't have to ask to know he's at least tried. But trying and succeeding are two very different things, something people as old as them are well aware of.
And she knows Tech's reasons. To save her. And his other friend. He can't die. In stories Gods sacrifice for the sake of their people but stories are full of shit and she's pretty sure if any gods exist in their world, and she doubts they do, they're assholes just like everyone else.
"And if it were your friend who was choosing to be tortured for a month, partly for your sake, you would simply respect that choice?"
Somehow, she doesn't think so. For all of his talk of the Path and the bard's songs about giving him coin she knows coin is not always the main motivation for Geralt. He may seem like another asshole, and sometimes he is, but he also has the capacity to give a shit where most other people wouldn't. Like with her.
no subject
The last part is a particular mixture of fond and long suffering.
Which transitions naturally into, "But I do have some experience saving people who don't want to be saved. I can't say I regret doing it, but it can have its consequences."
no subject
"It's one of the things you like about me." A beat. "Most of the time." He probably doesn't appreciate her stubbornness to do what she wants right in this moment.
"Well I have to be able to do something. I'll find something."
Tech said she didn't own him but she feels the weight of debt around her neck all the same.
And then after another beat:
"Like entwining your destiny with a witch who doesn't listen to you?"
no subject
Or at least, he was willing to let it go without saying.
But if Yennfer wants to acknowledge it, he won't pretend otherwise.
"Something to consider before you do anything drastic."
no subject
"As much as I do like to take the dramatic option... I may be spent as far as acting drastically goes."
She's spent months scheming and planning and researching and it still blew up in her face in the end. She's tired. She wants to help Tech but she's also exhausted.
"So that's one less thing for you to worry about, at least."